Crankcase Mounts And Reinforced Rubber In Mount On Force Vector

ABSTRACT

An engine is disclosed having a starter clutch ring gear, and a crank case having an integral starter pinion accepting member defining a through bore, and a gear assembly having an exterior surface configured to engage a flywheel and an surface engaging the second of the shaft. A starter pinion shaft is disposed through the through bore. The integral starter pinion accepting member defines a surface coupled to an engine mount.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit to U.S. application Ser. No. 15/723,884,filed on Oct. 3, 2017, now issued U.S. Pat. No. ______, entitled“Crankcase Mounts And Reinforced Rubber In Mount On Force Vector.” Theentire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle engine and, moreparticularly, to an engine having an integral starter pinion and enginemount.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

The off road vehicle market is driven by a need for increasingsophistication and performance of vehicles leading to the installationof more sophisticated, more powerful internal combustion engines. Theengine and ancillary equipment needs to be accommodated in a limitedspace, with the result that engine compartments are increasingly crowdedand present significant packaging problems. These packaging problemsincrease complications related to repair as well as subjectingcomponents externally coupled to the engine to increased environmentalcomplications.

Vehicle internal combustion engines are mounted to the vehicle viaengine mounts which support the engine as well as limit the transmissionof noise, vibration and harshness from the engine to the vehiclestructure. Engine mounts use compliant materials suitable for isolatingthe engine from the vehicle when the engine yet stiff enough to allowbetter control of the engine when the vehicle is being driven. Duringstartup however, engine mounts may not be properly positioned toovercome startup structural vibration.

Embodiments of the present invention have been made in consideration ofthese and other problems.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

According the present teachings, an engine is disclosed having a starterclutch ring gear, and a crank case having an integral starter pinionaccepting member defining a through bore, and a gear assembly having anexterior surface configured to engage the starter clutch ring gear andan surface engaging the shaft. A starter pinion shaft is disposedthrough the through bore, and has a first end projecting from a firstside of the integral starter pinion accepting member. The first end isconfigured to be coupled to a starter motor. The starter pinion shafthas a second end projecting from a second side of the integral starterpinion accepting member, and defines a drive surface supporting the gearassembly. The pinion shaft is supported by a bearing disposed betweenthe shaft and the through bore integral surface.

According to an alternate teaching, the afore mentioned paragraphs orthe following paragraphs, the engine further has the second end of thepinion shaft defines a worm gear configured to bias the gear assembly ina first direction when the shaft is rotated.

According to an alternate teaching, the afore mentioned paragraphs orthe following paragraphs, the gear assembly has a gear defining aninternally threaded bore and an externally threaded surface, theinternally threaded bore being configured to engage the worm geardefined on the shaft.

According to an alternate teaching, the afore mentioned paragraphs orthe following paragraphs, the gear assembly has a return springconfigured to bias the gear assembly exterior surface away from the ringgear when the shaft is not rotating.

According to an alternate teaching, the afore mentioned paragraphs orthe following paragraphs, the engine further has a locking flangeannularly disposed about the shaft configured to couple the shaft to thestarter pinion accepting member.

According to an alternate teaching, the afore mentioned paragraphs orthe following paragraphs, wherein the shaft has a first end defining aflat configured to engage a flexible drive member.

According to an alternate teaching, the afore mentioned paragraphs orthe following paragraphs, wherein the gear assembly has a dust coverdisposed over a return spring.

According the present teachings, an engine is disclosed having enginecrankcase having an integral starter pinion accepting member defining athrough bore and an external bearing surface and a force transmittingmember having an exterior fly wheel engaging surface and an interiorsurface configured a worm gear engaging surface. A shaft which isdisposed through the through bore is provided. The shaft has worm gearcoupled to the worm gear engaging surface. An engine mount coupled tothe external bearing surface.

According to an alternate teaching, the afore mentioned paragraphs orthe following paragraphs, the gear assembly has a return springconfigured to bias the gear assembly exterior surface away from the ringgear when the shaft is not rotating.

According to an alternate teaching, the afore mentioned paragraphs orthe following paragraphs, the engine further has further has a lockingflange annularly disposed about the shaft configured to couple the shaftto starter pinion accepting member.

According to an alternate teaching, the afore mentioned paragraphs orthe following paragraphs, the gear assembly has a dust cover disposedover a return spring.

According to an alternate teaching, the afore mentioned paragraphs orthe following paragraphs, the engine mount has a cylindrical rubberbushing member and a support bracket having a raised lip which annularlysurrounds a cylindrical rubber bushing member.

According to an alternate teaching, the afore mentioned paragraphs orthe following paragraphs, the engine further has the engine mountbracket has a threaded pin disposed through the rubber bushing which isused to couple the engine mount to the vehicle frame engaging member.

According to an alternate teaching, the afore mentioned paragraphs orthe following paragraphs, the rubber bushing member has an integratedplate member, the plate and bushing member each having a pair ofprojecting flanges which are aligned with a pair of flange acceptingapertures defined in the vehicle frame engaging member.

According the present teachings, an engine mount is disclosed having acylindrical rubber bushing member having a first pair of projectingflanges. The engine mount has an integrated plate member having a secondpair of projecting flanges, the integrated plate member being at leastpartially disposed within the cylindrical rubber bushing member. Asupport bracket having a raised lip annularly surrounding thecylindrical rubber bushing member.

According to an alternate teaching, the afore mentioned paragraphs orthe following paragraphs, the engine mount bracket has a threaded pindisposed through the rubber bushing which is used to couple the enginemount to the vehicle frame engaging member.

According to an alternate teaching, the afore mentioned paragraphs orthe following paragraphs, the second pair of projecting flanges are atleast partially disposed within the first pair of projecting flanges,wherein at least one of the first or second projecting flanges arealigned with a pair of flange accepting apertures defined in the vehicleframe.

According to an alternate teaching, the afore mentioned paragraphs, thefirst a pair of projecting flanges are positioned on a first surface ofthe rubber member and are radially displaced from each other between 10and 180 degrees about a rubber bushing periphery.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snowmobile.

FIGS. 2-2 B are exploded views of the snowmobile of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are opposite side views of the engine of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the engine of FIG. 3A.

FIGS. 5A-5C are views of an engine components of an integral starterpinion and engine mount.

FIGS. 6A and 6B represent sectional and exploded views of the integralstarter pinion and engine mount shown in FIG. 5A.

FIGS. 7A and 7B represent sectional and perspective views of the Enginemount according to the present teachings.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings. Although the following description includesseveral examples of a snowmobile application, it is understood that thefeatures herein may be applied to any appropriate vehicle, such as,all-terrain vehicles, utility vehicles, moped and scooters. The examplesdisclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit thedisclosure to the precise forms disclosed in the following detaileddescription. Rather, the examples are chosen and described so thatothers skilled in the art may utilize their teachings.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-2B, one embodiment of an exemplary snowmobile10, 10 a, 10 b is shown. Snowmobile 10 includes a chassis 12, an endlessbelt assembly 14, and a pair of front skis 20. Snowmobile 10 alsoincludes a front-end 16 and a rear-end 18.

The snowmobile 10 also includes a seat assembly 22 that is coupled tothe chassis assembly 12. A front suspension assembly 24 is also coupledto the chassis assembly 12. The front suspension assembly 24 may includea steering wheel 26, shock absorbers 28 and the skis 20. A rearsuspension assembly 30 is also coupled to the chassis assembly 12. Therear suspension assembly 30 may be used to support the endless belt 14for propelling the vehicle. An electrical console assembly 34 is alsocoupled to the chassis assembly 12. The electrical console assembly 34may include various components for electrically controlling thesnowmobile 10.

The snowmobile 10 also includes an engine assembly 40. The engineassembly 40 is coupled to an intake assembly 42 and an exhaust assembly44. The intake assembly 42 is used for providing fuel and air into theengine assembly 40 for the combustion process. Exhaust gas leaves theengine assembly 40 through the exhaust assembly 44. An oil tank assembly46 is used for providing oil to the engine for lubrication and formixing with the fuel in the intake assembly 42. A drivetrain assembly 48is used for converting the rotating crankshaft assembly from the engineassembly 40 into a force to use the endless belt 14 and thus thesnowmobile 10. The engine assembly 40 is also coupled to a coolingassembly 50.

The chassis assembly 12 may also include a bumper assembly 60, a hoodassembly 62 and a nose pan assembly 64. The hood assembly 62 is movableto allow access to the engine assembly 40 and its associated components.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4, the engine assembly 40 isillustrated in further detail. The engine assembly 40 is a two-strokeengine that includes the exhaust assembly 44 which may be referred to asan exhaust manifold. The exhaust assembly 44 includes connectionportions 45 and a main pipe 47.

The engine assembly 40 may include spark plugs 70 which are coupled to acylinder head cover 72. The cylinder head cover 72 is coupled to thecylinder head 74 which is used for housing the pistons 76 to form acombustion chamber 78 therein. The cylinder head 74 is mounted to theengine block 80.

The fuel system 82 includes fuel lines 84 and fuel injectors 86. Thefuel lines 84 provide fuel to the fuel injectors 86 which inject fuel,in this case, into a port adjacent to the pistons 76. An intake manifold88 is coupled to the engine block 80. The intake manifold 88 is influidic communication with the throttle body 90. Air is air for thecombustion processes admitted into the engine through the throttle body90 which may be controlled directly through the use of an acceleratorpedal or hand operated switch. A throttle position sensor 92 is coupledto the throttle to provide a throttle position signal corresponding tothe position of a throttle valve of throttle plate 94 to an enginecontroller.

The engine block 80 is coupled to crankcase 100 and forms a cavity forhousing the crankshaft 102. The crankshaft 102 has connecting rods 104which are ultimately coupled to the pistons 76. The movement of thepistons 76 within the engine chamber 78 causes a rotational movement atthe crankshaft 102 by way of the connecting rods 104. The crankcase mayhave openings or vents 106 therethrough. The system is lubricated usingoil lines 108 which are coupled to the oil injectors 110 and an oil pump112.

The crankshaft 102 is coupled to the flywheel 118 and having a stator120 therein. The flywheel 118 has crankshaft position sensors 122 thataid in determining the positioning of the crankshaft 102. The crankshaftposition sensors 122 are aligned with the teeth 124 and are used whenstarting the engine as well as being used to time the operation of theinjection of fuel during the combustion process. A stator cover 126covers the stator 120 and flywheel 118.

As best seen in FIGS. 5A-5C, the engine assembly 40 has a starter pinionassembly 500 having an integrated engine mount 600. The starter pinionassembly 500 has a pinion shaft 502 having a displaceable gear assembly504 which a ring gear 503 on the clutch. The starter pinion assembly500, has an integrated monolithic starter pinion support member 506 thatis cast and machined into the crankshaft case body.

FIGS. 5B and 5C represent sectional and exploded views of the pinionassembly 502. The starter pinion assembly 500 is integral formed intothe crankcase at the integrated starter pinion support member 506. Theintegral starter pinion accepting member 506 defines a through bore 508which annually supports the shaft 502 using a pair of bearings 510. Theintegral starter pinion accepting member 506 has first and second endsdefining first and second apertures 507 and 509, with first aperture 507having a larger diameter than the second aperture 509. The shaft 502 anddisplaceable gear assembly 504 are held to the integral starter pinionmember 506 by a bracket 512 which defines a through aperture annularlydisposed about the shaft 502. The shaft 502 has a first end 514 whichprojects from a first end of the integral starter pinion acceptingmember 506 and through the aperture 508. The first end 514 has anengaging surface which allows the coupling of the shaft 502 to aflexible starter cable (not shown).

The shaft 502 further has a medial portion 516 which is annularlysupported by the bearings 510. The bracket 512 defines a through bore520 which is annularly disposed about the shaft 502, and functions tohold the bearings 510 within the through aperture 508.

Outside of the through aperture 508 is the displaceable gear assembly504. The displaceable gear assembly 504 has a shaft engaging member 530which has an interior thread 532 that engages a worm thread 534 definedon an exterior surface 536 on the shaft 502. The shaft engaging member530 has a surface 538 which apply axial force onto a surface 540 of agear 542 which during engagement of the starter axially displaces thegear 542 along a longitudinal axis of the shaft into engagement with thering gear 503.

After the starter is disengaged, power to the displaceable gear assembly504 is removed, stopping rotation of the shaft 502. Return spring 544applies return axial forces to the gear 542, disengaging the gear 542from the ring gear 503. Associated with the return spring is a pair ofbearings 510 and a dust cover 548.

As best seen in FIGS. 6A-6B, immediately adjacent the starter pinionassembly 500 and coupled thereto is the engine mount 600. The enginemount 600 is coupled to the integral starter pinion accepting member 506with a pair of fasteners 602.

In this regard, the engine mount 600 has a bracket 604 having a raisedlip 606 which annularly surrounds a cylindrical rubber bushing member608. Disposed through the bracket 604 and cylindrical rubber bushingmember 608 is a threaded pin 610 which is used to couple the enginemount 600 to a vehicle from engaging member 612.

As best seen in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the rubber bushing member 608 has anintegrated plate member 614. The integrated plate member 614 and bushingmember 608 have a pair of projecting ears or flanges 613 disposed at thebushing periphery 616 and off of a bushing top surface 618 which arealigned with a pair of square flange accepting apertures 614 defined inthe vehicle frame engaging member 612. The pair of projecting ears orflanges 613 disposed at the bushing periphery 616 and off of a bushingtop surface 618 project along a line parallel to and displaced from anaxis formed by the support pin. The pair of projecting ears or flanges613 function as additional cushion and support along the force vectorsmost likely to induce damage to the bushing material. These apertures615 and flanges align with the highest vibration loading vectors in thevehicle, thus increasing the expected life of the rubber bushing member608. In this regard, the pair of projecting flanges are positioned on afirst surface of the rubber member and are radially displaced about arubber bushing periphery at between 10 and 180 degrees to acceptloading.

Examples are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and willfully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerousspecific details are set forth such as examples of specific components,devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of examples ofthe present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat specific details need not be employed, that examples may beembodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed tolimit the scope of the disclosure. In some examples, well-knownprocesses, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies arenot described in detail.

The foregoing description has been provided for purposes of illustrationand description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit thedisclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular example aregenerally not limited to that particular example, but, where applicable,are interchangeable and can be used in a selected example, even if notspecifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in manyways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from thedisclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be includedwithin the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An engine comprising: a clutch ring gear; a crankcase having an integral starter pinion accepting member defining athrough bore, the through bore having a through bore interior surface; agear assembly having an exterior surface configured to engage a ringgear and a surface configured to engage a linear drive; and a starterpinion shaft disposed through the through bore, the shaft having a firstend projecting from a first side of the integral starter pinionaccepting member and being configured to be coupled to a starter motor,the starter pinion shaft having a second end projecting from a secondside of the integral starter pinion accepting member, the second enddefining a linear drive surface supporting the gear assembly, thestarter pinion shaft being supported by a bearing disposed between thestarter pinion shaft and the through bore internal surface.
 2. Theengine of claim 1 wherein the second end defines a worm gear configuredto bias the gear assembly in a first direction when the shaft isrotated.
 3. The engine of claim 2 wherein the gear assembly has a geardefining an internally threaded bore and an externally threaded surface,the internally threaded bore being configured to engage the worm geardefined on the starter pinion shaft.
 4. The engine of claim 1 whereinthe gear assembly comprises a return spring configured to bias the gearassembly exterior surface away from the ring gear when the shaft is notrotating.
 5. The engine of claim 1 further comprising: a locking memberannularly disposed about the shaft configured to couple the shaft tostarter pinion accepting member.
 6. The engine of claim 1 wherein thefirst end defines a flat configured to engage a flexible drive member.7. The engaging of claim 1 wherein the gear assembly has a dust coverdisposed over a return spring.
 8. The engaging of claim 1 wherein thegear assembly has a bearing configured to support the gear assembly onthe starter pinion shaft.
 9. An engine comprising: an integral starterpinion accepting member defining a through bore and an external bearingsurface, a pinion having a linear drive; a gear assembly having anclutch ring gear engaging surface and an interior surface configured tocouple to the linear drive; and an engine mount coupled to the externalbearing surface.
 10. The engine of claim 9 wherein the gear assemblydefines an internally threaded bore and an externally threaded surface,the internally threaded bore being configured to engage the lineardrive, the linear drive being configured to bias the gear assemblyexterior surface toward the ring gear when a shaft of the pinion isrotated.
 11. The engine of claim 9 wherein the gear assembly comprises areturn spring configured to bias the gear assembly exterior surface awayfrom the ring gear when a shaft of the pinion is not rotating.
 12. Theengine of claim 9 further comprising a locking flange annularly disposedabout a shaft of the pinion configured to couple the shaft to starterpinion accepting member.
 13. The engine of claim 9 wherein a shaft ofthe pinion has a first end that defines a flat configured to engage aflexible drive member.
 14. The engaging of claim 9 wherein the gearassembly has a dust cover disposed over a return spring.
 15. An enginecomprising: a crank case having a through bore, the through boredefining a through bore interior surface; a gear assembly having anexterior surface configured to engage a ring gear and a surfaceconfigured to engage a linear drive; and a starter pinion shaft disposedthrough the through bore,
 16. The engine of claim 15, furthercomprising: a clutch ring gear; wherein the shaft has a first endprojecting from a first side of the through bore and being configured tobe coupled to a starter motor, the shaft has a second end projectingfrom a second side of the through bore, the second end defining a lineardrive surface supporting the gear assembly.
 17. The engine of claim 15,further comprising: a bearing disposed between the starter pinion shaftand the through bore internal surface; wherein the pinion shaft issupported by the bearing.
 18. The engine of claim 15, furthercomprising: an integral starter pinion accepting member defining thethrough bore.
 19. The engine of claim 18, further comprising: an enginemount coupled to an external bearing surface defined by the integralstarter pinion accepting member.
 20. The engine of claim 16, wherein thesecond end defines a worm gear configured to bias the gear assembly in afirst direction when the shaft is rotated.